Queen For The Day

Friday, 20 April 2018 05:24

The leafs game last night provided a mother and son from the area a chance of a lifetime.

WOODSTOCK - Wish of a Lifetime Canada and Chartwell Oxford Gardens have teamed up to give a life long leaf fan a trip of a life time.

Bonnie Rickley is a caregiver from Chatham Ontario and had a chance to go to the Leafs game last night and stay in a hotel through the program. She says the Maple Leafs have always held a special place in her heart.

"Since I was 10 years old, my dad got our first television set, black and white but we started watching the Leafs together and I have never looked back, I even taught my husband to love the Leafs."

Rickley spent the morning at a salon getting her hair and nails done and then she went to the game with her son and stayed at a hotel downtown. Rickley has spent her whole life taking care of people and admits it was nice to pampered for a day.

"I just can't believe it because I'm still taking care of people at home, I feel like Queen for a day."

Rickley explains what it was like when she found out this was happening.

"I told my son, this must be a hoax, I mean I never win anything but it wasn't, he got the tickets the next week and said mom were going, I said this is a dream come true."

Bonnie was nominated for the Wish of a Lifetime by her son Jeff Rickley who lives in Woodstock. Jeff explains why he wanted to do something special for his mom.

"I decided to nominate her for the Wish of a Lifetime because since my dad passed away she has been struggling with depression and some health issues and I thought she could use some encouragement and a pick me up and a new good memory since my dad's passing."

He adds his mother doesn't actually live at Oxford Gardens, however anyone can apply for this program.

"This is open to any senior, they don't have to live at a Chartwell Retirement Community like Oxford Gardens, they can live out in the community anywhere or in another retirement community and this wish is open to any senior."